SAN ANTONIO (April 17, 2019) - Recently released rankings from the United States Postal Services show San Antonio is 6th in the nation when it comes to the number of dog bites against postal carriers. The ranking was discussed today in a joint press conference with officers from Animal Care Services and carriers with the U.S. Postal Services. With 47 reported bites involving USPS workers in Bexar County over 2018, this ongoing issue is not just impacting our local postal carriers—it’s also highlighting the link between pet owner responsibility and neighborhood safety.

ACS Assistant Director Shannon Sims says prevention is rooted in common sense solutions. “Socializing your dog and correcting them when they’re being aggressive can help lower the number of bite cases we’re seeing. Every day we’re out in the field and we see owned dogs roaming on the street, getting into other people’s yards, chasing cars and scaring people. It seems a bit ridiculous risking your mail delivery simply because you can’t keep your dog contained.” In 2017, San Antonio also ranked #6 in the nation with 44 reported bites against carriers. ACS Field staff continues to work with postal carriers on bite prevention awareness and, last year, created a USPS-centric video for training purposes. Animal Care Services’ website includes local animal laws as well as a video library with brief educational videos that discuss basic canine behavior, bite prevention and dog safety tips for walkers and bicyclists.